Cyndi Lauper: I never stop

Cyndi Lauper says the secret to her success is "never stopping".

The 59-year-old music icon has been making hit records since the early '80s, including Girls Just Want to Have Fun and Time After Time. She is currently starring in new reality TV series Cyndi Lauper: Still So Unusual, and believes she has remained popular because of her work ethic and self-belief.

"I don't think it's a secret: I never stopped," she told Parade when asked how she has maintained longevity as a musician. "When people told me you can't do this or that, I would just do it. I didn't think there was another choice for me."

Although Cyndi has a hectic schedule, she always makes time for her family. When she isn't working, she loves spending time with her husband David Thornton and their son Declyn.

"Movie nights with my husband and son," she explained when quizzed on what brings her joy. "Declyn is 15, which is a new frontier for us. When you're a teenager, you don't really want to hang with your parents, but every once in a while, we'll all hang out together."

Despite her achievements, Cyndi insists she has remained down to earth.

She is more than happy to get stuck into household chores and says her new TV show will reveal how full a life she has.

"Probably that I wash dishes!" Cyndi laughed when asked what will most surprise people watching her series. "I wanted to bring attention to the stuff I was doing - the gigs, my Broadway musical [Kinky Boots, scheduled for the spring] - but also show that I have a life in between. I'm a rocker, so no regrets! I put it all out there."